I think this image pretty much sums up the whole film.
The Lowdown: Splinter is a low-budget indie creature feature that is a mixed bag. While crappy camera work and flat characters tarnish the film, it is saved thanks to outstanding and gruesome special effects work and a subtle subversion of horror movie clichés.1. The Plot: A young couple on a camping trip are carjacked by two criminals on the run. When the car overheats, they stop at a gas station. They soon discover that the gas station is infested with a vicious splinter parasite that turns those infected with it into deadly zombie-like hosts. Trapped in the gas station without any outside help, they must fend themselves against the Splinter parasite.
2. The Characters:Since Splinter has a bare-bones plot, it makes sense that the characters in the film are also equally simple and flat. Jill Wagner and Paulo Costanzo are Polly and Seth, a young couple that only wanted to go on a camping trip. Seth is clumsy, weak, and a bit of a nerd (he’s trying to get his Ph.D. in biology), and Polly is much more capable physically (she knows how to fix a flat tire, and not Seth). Shea Whigham (Fast and Furious 6, Silver Linings Playbook) and Rachel Kerbs are Dennis and Lacey, two criminals trying to hightail it to Mexico. Dennis is Mr. Tough Guy, brandishing a gun and all, but it becomes evident that he cares deeply for Lacey, who is an unstable, crazy junkie. Initially, all of the characters come across as flat, boring, and unlikable. Especially Lacey, who is suffering withdrawal from drugs and clearly out of her mind. Seth is also annoyingly inept since he is such a wimp and can’t seem to do anything. Really, Polly is the only character who doesn’t do stupid things that make things worse. However, as the film goes on and their situation becomes increasingly dire, Seth becomes a much more capable and likable character. Even Dennis gets his dramatic moments that make him more sympathetic. Still, these characters are stock, but watching a creature feature for character development is mostly pointless.
3. The Special Effects: The very concept of a splinter parasite is brilliant. It’s something that has the potential to be incredibly visceral. Fortunately, the filmmakers realized this and put a lot of work into the special effects. The end result is simply awesome. The splinter parasite effects are creepy and gruesome. The things the parasite does to its hosts are horrifying and cringe-inducing, from simple dismemberment to the grotesque twisting of limbs. All of this is made the more effective because the effects look practical. However, the filmmakers used somewhat of a cheap tactic to hide potentially fake-looking effects. The camera work in Splinter is incredibly shaky, especially during action scenes where infected hosts are trying to attack the characters. The hosts are basically masses of twisted flesh and splinters, so they move in a stilted and awkward fashion. When attacking, they basically lunge or crawl towards our heroes. However, the camera is so shaky and disorienting, and the jump cuts are so fast and frequent that it’s nearly impossible to make out what is going on. These shaky moments only occurred whenever the splinter creatures made an appearance, so I can only assume that the shoddy camerawork was only done to obscure potentially fake-looking effects.
The Bottom Line: Splinter is an above-average indie horror gem that has moments in it that really get under your skin. The real highlight is the visceral special effects. I can’t say much for the story or the characters, but Splinter definitely kept things simple and straightforward, which ended up being a smart move in the long run. Really, the thought of a splinter parasite is enough to creep anyone out, and that’s good enough for me.
Splinter is property of Indion Entertainment Group. This review was written by me.
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